ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured to revamp Pakistan’s economy on strong footings by setting an example. Speaking in the Senate on Monday, he said his austerity drive is aimed at getting people realized that their government will spend their tax money on their welfare instead of useless expenses. He said we need to change colonial mindset to serve the masses in a better way.

The prime minister said steps are being taken to reduce expenditure, check money laundering, generate revenue, and reform Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR). He said enabling environment will be created for overseas Pakistanis to invest in their own country.

Imran Khan said he will go on foreign visits after setting the internal house in order and improving governance in the country.

PM Khan said he came to Senate to show that he believes in strengthening the parliament. He said a Prime Minister Question Time will be introduced in the National Assembly, where he will himself give answers to questions every fortnightly. Khan said he will also come to the Upper House to respond queries of senators.

The chair referred the bills to the concerned standing committees of the House.

The opposition staged a token walkout for its demand to constitute a parliamentary commission to probe rigging in the recently concluded general election.

The chair appointed Senators Haroon Khan, Muhammad Ali Saif, and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri as presiding officers for the current session of the Upper House.

The chair also congratulated Senator Syed Shibli Faraz for assuming charge of the leader of the house. He also appreciated the role of outgoing leader of the opposition in the Senate Sherry Rehman for raising the image of the House.

The House offered Fateha for a number of people died in various incidents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The senators also offered Fateha for the departed souls of Pakistan Movement Worker Syed Ahmad Saeed Kirmani and brothers of Senator Kalsoom Parveen and Talha Mehmood.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday emphasized upon the need for greater coordination between Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to fight white collar crimes and other corrupt practices.

He was chairing a briefing on the Ministry of Interior and its attached departments here at the PM Office.

Imran Khan directed that ministry of interior should enhance implementation on 20-point National Action Plan, adding that the senior officials of the aforementioned ministry and its subordinate departments should adopt measures of austerity and cut their expenses besides transparency.

The prime minister observed that curbing corruption and retrieving the wealth of the country, amassed through illegal means and laundered abroad, were among the biggest challenges for the government.

He said that every effort would be made to accomplish those goals besides putting in place a robust system that could prove itself as an effective deterrent against such malpractices in the future.

The prime minister said that overseas Pakistanis, the most valuable asset of the country, we’re ready to bring their money to Pakistan and invest in various sectors of the economy.

He, however, added that there was a need to provide them with an enabling environment that ensured safety and security of their lives and property.

Khan said, “Ministry of Interior and its attached departments should play their role more effectively towards ensuring service delivery, improving the overall security situation in the country and providing a sense of security to the citizens.”

“The Ministry of Interior is a key ministry and there should be the improvement in its performance,” Khan said and added that he would himself review over the implementation of the set targets.

Adviser to PM on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, Special Assistant to PM Naeem-ul-Haq, Special Assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani, MNA Shyaryar Afridi, Secretary Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, Secretary to PM Azam Khan and senior officers heading various attached departments of the Ministry of Interior were present during the meeting.

Secretary Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar made a detailed presentation about the functions of the interior ministry and its attached departments.

He also briefed the prime minister about various steps taken by the ministry, including the adoption of legislative measures and policies, to combat terrorism, prevent smuggling and human trafficking and curbing electronic and other crimes.